JockBio: Troy Polamalu Facts

JockBio Vital Stats
• Pittsburgh Steelers	• Safety	• #43
• Height: 5' 10"	• Weight: 207	• Born: 4/19/81

Growing up in Oregon, Troy often watched an uncle perform in traditional Samoan fire sword dances.
Troy was a two-time All-State basketball player in high school.
Troy scored 56 touchdowns in just 32 high school games.
Troy’s 118 tackles as a junior were the most for a USC safety since Tim McDonald had 140 in 1986.
Troy was USC’s first two-time All-American since Tony Boselli in 1992 and 1994, and the school's first All-American safety since Mark Carrier in 1989.
Troy was a finalist for the 2002 Jim Thorpe Award.
Troy returned three of his six college interceptions for touchdowns. He also blocked four punts for the Trojans.
Despite signing a multimillion dollar contract with the Steelers, Troy showed up to his first training camp in a $12,000 Kia.
Troy won the 2003 Joe Greene Award, given by the Steelers to their top rookie.
In 2006, Troy tied a record for sacks by a safety with three.
Super Bowl XL was a big day for Samoans. Troy and Lofa Tatupu of the Seahawks—friends and teammates from USC—were two of the defensive stars of the game.
Troy was named to the 2009 AFC Pro Bowl squad.
Troy wanted to sign autographs for fans after the 2006 Pro Bowl, but the Honolulu police would not permit it. The crowd waiting for him was too large to control.
At the time of Troy’s 2007 contract, it was the largest ever given to a Steeler (worth more $30 million). He was the highest-paid safety in the NFL until Bob Sanders inked a new deal with the Colts at the end of '07.
In 2007, Troy had his name legally changed to Polamalu. Technically, it was stil Aumua.
Troy was the star of a new Coke Zero that debuted during Super Bowl XLLIII. It was a takeoff on the classic Mean Joe Greene commercial from the 1970s.
Troy holds rock-paper-scissors tournaments in the Steelers’ locker room.
Troy is a practical joker. He loves to tie teammates’ shoelaces together.
Troy has been timed at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash and has a 43-inch vertical leap.
Troy became a master woodcarver in high school. He made ornate cabinets and coffee tables, which he sold to earn extra cash.
Troy’s hobbies include fly fishing and orchid cultivation.
Troy’s bother, Kaio Aumua, played football for UTEP. His uncle Kennedy is running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Troy rarely cuts hs hair. He describes his hair as a “fifth appendage.” As it grows to cover his uniform number, the NFL may step in and make him trim it.
Troy is married to Theodora Holmes, the sister of USC teammate and Dolphins receiver Alex Holmes. They had their first child, a daughter named Paisios.
Troy has two nicknames—The Tasmanian Devil and The Quiet Storm.

Tony Boselli, 1995 Pinnacle

Lofa Tatupu, 2007 Score

Joe Greene, 1980 Topps Super